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The extent of social engagement with the local community is closely related to international students’ sociocultural and psychological well-being, but the relevant literature shows that most students have inadequate or poor engagement with the host society. This study, in the context of a university in an Australian regional area, examines various factors related to these students’ engagement with the local community and society. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected respectively by questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The findings show that cultural differences, inadequate language competency, intercultural understanding, religion, psychological worries, and racial discrimination are six salient barriers obstructing international students’ positive and effective social interaction. The limited contact with the local community is significantly associated with the international students’ negative emotions, including homesickness, loneliness, anxiety and depression; and demographic factors such as age and gender are not significantly related to their social engagement, but length of stay and English proficiency in the host country have a significant impact.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Social Well-being, Racial Discrimination, Acculturation, International Students
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Public Health and Health Services
Research Field:	Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health)
Objective Field:	Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Yue, Y (Dr Yun Yue)
UTAS Author:	Le, Q (Dr Quynh Le)
ID Code:	84372
Year Published:	2013
Deposited By:	Centre for Rural Health
Deposited On:	2013-05-09
Last Modified:	2014-05-08
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